Pak condemns terror attacks, offers "complete cooperation"

Pakistan on Thursday strongly condemned attacks in Mumbai in which more than 100 people were killed, and called for strict measures to purge the region of militants, state media reported. President Asif Ali Zardari "stressed the need for taking strict measures to eradicate terrorism and extremism from the region," the Associated Press of Pakistan said. In a separate message Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani also "strongly condemned the terrorist attacks," the news agency said. Gilani urged the need for "concerted efforts to make the region a peaceful place to live," it said. Pakistan, a key ally in the US-led "war on terror" is dealing with its own militant violence including bomb blasts and suicide attacks that have claimed hundreds of lives across the Islamic Republic. Pakistan on Thursday strongly condemned the terror strikes in Mumbai and offered "complete cooperation" and support to India to fight the menace unitedly. Islamabad also stressed the need for strengthening of the bilateral Joint Anti-Terror Mechanism. Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi, who is here on a four-day visit, stressed the need for "revisiting" strategies for peace and security of the region and favoured greater linkages between the two countries. "I am shocked and horrified at the Mumbai incidents," he said. "No civilised society can tolerate such incidents," he said. "I assure the Indian government of our complete cooperation and support. Terrorism is a global phenomenon. We in Pakistan deal with it on a daily basis," Qureshi said recalling that Islamabad had witnessed a similar incident recently. "We will have to join all our resources to fight the menace. The Joint Anti-Terror Mechanism needs to be strengthened further. It needs to meet frequently," he said. Qureshi said he had suggested to External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee yesterday the need for greater linkages and connect between intelligence agencies so that they can share information to prevent such incidents. Noting that India and Pakistan are both victims of terrorism, he said "we will have to revisit our strategies for peace and security of the region." "I offer complete support to the Indian government," Qureshi said.